Effect of the Web on Databases

¶ … web on database processing? Before the event of the World Wide Web, database processing was relatively limited to one database area, within one system of complied computer data. In other words, in a medical office, patient records had to be entered by data entry staff into a singular computer database, but could not be shared with another office if the patient was seeing another physician in another office, unless a currier brought a disk or printed files to the office.

Now, if a patient was seeing a physician in another office, that patient could have his or her records immediately accessed by the office through the use of the World Wide Web technology. The introduction of information sharing via the World Wide Web can potentially prevent misunderstandings, misinformation, and generally increase the ability of individuals to be better informed about the specifics of their financial or physical condition, and the terms of their employment.

For instance, an employee from his or her home can consult his or her pay slip or leave slip, when managing his or her funds and paying his or her bills online. The World Wide Web has also made it easier for companies to store data about their customers. For instance, if a customer has purchased a particular type of product in the past, he or she can receive information on his or her Internet account or through the mail about possible offerings of likely interest.

The Web has thus made it easier for companies to consolidate data in a fashion that it can be easily shared, and quickly shared between companies, as well as for consumers to pay for services in a speedier fashion. Unfortunately, this additional database processing technology has had some unfortunate effects as well. As information becomes more accessible as part of a network, rather than confined to a particular office or system, the chances of fraud or improper sharing of data increases exponentially.

Also, the sharing of consumer information and buying patterns is seldom used to the benefit of consumers. Convenience is increased but consumers buying patterns can be sold in database form to other databases, or accessed by experienced hackers on the Internet. Credit card information and personal data is also more accessible, because of the increased ability to share information through the form of the World Wide Web.

What has been the effect of the Web on database management? As a result of such security risks, database management has had to increasingly concern itself with security as well as with efficiency. Database management has had to introduce a system of security controls, so that personal information cannot be easily accessed from a company's website, for example, without the use of a password or other security control.

A library that makes its holdings accessible on a database to all purveyors upon the World Wide Web may need to install security measures to make patron's data and identification numbers confidential, even though everyone can access the library's holdings and hours. Banks in particular must make sure that data is consolidated in a way that minimizes error as well as maximizes security.

One of the advantages to database management in some spheres, such as banking, is that consumers can be empowered to keep 'tabs' upon their data consistently by accessing websites, to make sure that no errors are made in their accounts. Patients can feel empowered.